So here it goes: (these are in no particular order)
1. Bede- (historian)
Bede wrote The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (circa 731 CE), which comes standard in almost any early medieval history class. It's not always the most exciting read, but it was my first real contact with historical non-fiction on medieval England.
2. Snorri Sturluson
Snorri not only has an awesome name, he compiled old Norse legends into what is know as the Prose Edda. The Poetic Edda (author unknown) is a collection of old Norse poems (obviously) about the Norse gods. Snorri's Edda sort of fills in the blanks left by the poems, and includes other legends- like those of Sigurd (yay Sigurd!) Yes, Snorri is responsible for my Viking obsession.
3. Alexander Dumas
My all time favorite book is The Count of Monte Cristo. Though this is a work of fiction, it reflects so much of Napoleonic France- a time period I just happen to love. And lets face it, Edmund Dantes is kind of sexy.
4. Shel Silverstein
Apart from those of the Edda, Silverstein's poems are pretty much the only ones I like. I am having such a blast reading them to my little Monster and I hope that he will read them to his children.
5. Padraic Colum
Ok, so when I first learned about the vikings (learned the truth- not the horn wearing barbarians that people tend to believe- that is) I was more interested in their mythology than the people themselves. In the midst of overwhelming curiosity, I picked up Colum's Nordic Gods and Heroes and instantly fell in love with Odin, Frey, Thor, Loki, and all the rest (except Baldr, I don't really care about him in the same way I don't care for Achilles- come on, killed by mistletoe? Really?) Because of this book I wanted to learn more about the people who worshipped these extraordinary gods, people who believe that all their gods (well, the cool ones at least) were killed in an epic civil war. So I signed up to take an independent study course so that I could find out. I ended up writing my term paper on the different paths the vikings took for trade/raiding/land/exploration and how they influenced the people they encountered. I wish I still had a copy of it. This paper lead me to Snorri Sturluson.
6. Lauren Willig
Author of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, which I have mentioned before. I love this series. What could be greater than aristocratic espionage during the Napoleonic wars with a lovely dash of chivalry and romance? Miles Dorrinton... and he's in this series! I strongly recommend this book to everyone, whether you're a history nut or not!
7. Roald Dahl
I think Dahl's books were the first real novels I ever read (unless Goosebumps are considered novels... those may have been first then). These books really opened up my imagination... and spurred my love for peaches. I still, to this very moment, hope I can meet a big friendly giant and every time I see pointy toe shoes, I think of toeless witches.
8. Ariana Franklin
Author of The Mistress of the Art of Death, a historical fiction about a female doctor during the reign of Henry II of England (late 12th century). Yes, there is a little bit of romance in this series too, but what I really like about this book is how historically accurate it is and that it shows that the Middle Ages were not "dark" as so many ill-informed people think.
9. James Macpherson
Ok, so he was a lousy historian and lied about the there being documented sources for his Poems of Ossian but the poems themselves are wonderful and, when picked at meticulously, show some rather interesting things about medieval Scottish society that archeologists have unearthed and proved. Even though it is a rather difficult read, and my favorite berserker is portrayed as a wuss, it shows that literature is important in historical study... and reminds me of just how silly the scholarly world can be.
10. Dante
After spending weeks dissecting that blasted Inferno, I hated Dante. But it's crazy just how much his version of hell has impacted me. I think that it's crazy that babies go to anything even remotely close to hell because they aren't baptized, but I have to say that I often worry for my Monster. I may not fully believe in what Dante wrote, but what if he was right? Maybe a few drops of water on my baby's head isn't that big of a deal if it covers the "what if."
11. Toshio Maeda (TMI warning!)
I'm sort of embarrassed to have included him on this list, but I would be lying if I said his work hasn't stuck with me all this time. He is the author and illustrator of the Japanese manga Urotsukidoji. I have not actually read the manga, but I did watch the anime which stripped me of my otaku innocence- this was not only my introduction to hentai (Japanese porn), it also introduced me to the Japanese obsession with tentacles. I am no stranger to the world of pornography, but there is nothing that can ready you for a glowing blue penis or a demon with many phallus shaped tentacles chasing after teenage girls. Through this I somehow came across (I don't remember how now) Bible Black which has scarred me for the rest of my life.
12. Unknown
The problem with being a medievalist is that most manuscripts were written by monks who were not important enough to leave their names, however, many works that have influenced me have unknown authors. Two worth mentioning are Beowulf (the viking obsession continues!) and The Ulster Cycle- primarily for "Bricriu's Feast which discusses my favorite beserker (the one Macpherson made out to be a wimp) Cuchulainn (pronouced coo-cullen, though my professor pronounced it coo coo lain). One day I will write why I love him, and will show a picture I once drew of him in all his berserk glory!
13. Oscar Wilde
For two things The Importance of Being Ernest and The Portrait of Dorian Gray. If you have read either of these, you will understand why I have included Wilde here.
14. Lady Charlotte Guest
Lady Guest compiled the Mabinogion, which is a collection of Welsh legends. The first cycle is "Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed." I have an idea of writing a fiction based off of this particular legend, but I haven't had the time to actually start it. I plan to try to start next summer. Just to show how crazy the Welsh language is, Pwyll is pronounce Pooeelh (but my professor called him Pweeth, so I do too) and Dyfed is pronouced Dove-aed. Crazy right?
15. Goethe
Faust is not, by any means, my favorite book/play, but after Dr. Willby's Damned Heroes class I tend to find faustian bargains in every stinking think I read/watch! I know that Goethe wasn't the first to come up with the Faust myth, but I like his version a little bit better... and I love the old black and white film that was made off of it. Also... Faust makes me think of theses, and even though I hated Willby for being such a hard-ass when it came to a freakin' thesis, I can write one hell of a thesis statement now. Thanks Willby.
16. Charlotte Perkins Gilman (Yes, I'm including a 16th for this blog because I forgot about this one when I did the thing on FB)
I had to read The Yellow Wallpaper five and a half years ago for my Eng.102 class and I will never forget it. It's Gilman's account of her struggle with postpartum depression/psychosis. She was carted off to the country with her husband and newborn because that's what the doctors of her time prescribed for ppd. While there she had horrible hallucinations and it is all quite frightening to read. When a month had gone by since the Monster was born and I was still feeling really down, I remembered this essay. If I had not read it, I may have not gone for help when I did and I don't even want to think of what may have happened if I hadn't. I know I would not have hurt the Monster, but I honestly cannot say the same about myself or Nick.
So that's my list. Maybe one of my very few readers will pick up one of these books and perhaps they will mean something special to you too. And maybe Hope will finally read the Pink Carnation! Serious Ochibi, get on it! Oh, and in case you are wondering, I have not included links (other than for Cuchulainn) because I figure that if you're really curious, you can google.
=)
